Hail season in the Tri-Lakes area runs roughly May through August, and Monument sits close to one of the more active hail corridors along the Front Range. If your car has come out of a storm covered in dents, cracked glass, or chipped paint, you’re not alone. Here’s what actually needs to happen next.
How Hail Damage Actually Affects Your Car
Hail hits three parts of your vehicle differently. Dents happen when the impact deforms the metal panel without breaking the paint. Cracks and chips happen to glass. And clear coat damage happens when an impact is sharp enough to break through the paint’s top layer. Most cars that go through a storm end up with some mix of all three.
Paintless Dent Repair vs. Traditional Bodywork
If the paint is intact, paintless dent repair (PDR) is almost always the right call. A technician works the metal back into shape from behind the panel, and because nothing needs to be repainted, it’s faster and less expensive than traditional bodywork. Once the clear coat is cracked or a dent is too sharp for PDR, the panel needs to be filled, primed, and repainted to match the rest of the car.
When a Windshield Needs Repair vs. Replacement
A chip smaller than a quarter, away from the windshield’s edge, can usually be repaired in under an hour. Anything larger, or anything near the edge where the glass loses structural strength, needs full replacement. One thing people don’t expect: most windshields built in the last several years have a camera or sensor mounted behind the glass for lane-departure and collision-avoidance systems. Replacing the glass means that system needs to be recalibrated, not just the glass swapped.
Why Paint Damage Gets Worse If You Wait
A cracked clear coat exposes the base paint underneath, and Colorado’s UV levels run higher here than at sea level because of the altitude. Exposed paint fades and discolors faster than the surrounding panel. Wait a season and the mismatch becomes visible even after the repair happens.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Hail Damage
Comprehensive coverage typically covers hail damage, and Colorado insurers process enough hail claims each summer to move through them quickly. Get a professional damage estimate before you call your insurer if you can. It gives you a clear starting point for the claim and helps make sure damage the adjuster’s photos might miss doesn’t get left out.
What to Do This Week If Your Car Was Hit
Get it looked at before you decide anything, especially before assuming a small dent isn’t worth the trouble. A shop that’s upfront about PDR versus bodywork, glass repair versus replacement, and what your policy actually covers will save you a second trip in the fall.
Schedule Your Free Estimate Today
Whether you were rear-ended, caught in a hailstorm, or involved in a major collision, we’re here to help from the moment of impact to the moment you drive away.
📍 Tri-Lakes Collision
2101 Wolf Ct, Monument, CO
📞 (719) 495-4508
🌐 trilakescollision.com
